Marcus Freeman Identifies Notre Dame's Biggest Defensive Issues After BYU Loss

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman doesn’t make emotional decisions or statements.

In fact, Freeman can be too honest at times.

When it comes to Notre Dame’s defense, Freeman knows it needs to be better than what the Fighting Irish showed in Provo, but it doesn’t need an overhaul.

The focus over the bye week was on preparing for Navy while finding ways to improve on third down and in the red zone. (Which we highlighted last week: Notre Dame Football: The Good, Bad and Ugly From BYU Loss)

Both have been areas of concern at times this season, and BYU exposed those weaknesses. 

The Cougars went 4-for-4 in the red zone, scoring touchdowns on all four trips.

“We gotta be better on both sides of the ball in the red zone,” explained Freeman. “I think defensively it's third down. Both sides of the ball really is third down. We have to be better on third down in the red zone. QB runs are hurting us a little bit. Defensively, they're getting to the point where it's a manageable third down. We gotta be better in our technique versus some of those third down passes.” 

Freeman stressed to his staff that changes were needed in both areas during the bye week, leading to an increased emphasis on the practice field.

“We really focused on a lot of red zone and third down situations this past week and we'll continue to do it even more going forward,” Freeman stated. “You can identify it and just say there's an issue where you can really say, OK, how can we truly have a plan to work it? That's my job to make sure we're working it in practice and we've increased our emphasis in those two areas.” 

When it comes to third down, Freeman identified a specific area that needs improvement and it’s where opponents need three to six yards to move the chains.

BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier completed 6-of-9 passes for 61 yards on third down while adding 17 yards on three rushing attempts.

“It's the 3rd-and-3 to 6 where, as you identify it, even in the last game, you get into some of your sub packages,” stated Freeman. “Where you get a lot of your pressure and BYU checked run. Same situation with North Carolina. They're seeing us in our sub packages, so instead of trying to pick it up and protect, they said, let's run the ball. We can't allow offenses to just dictate to our defense what packages we're in.” 

Freeman also pointed to the first half in Provo, when BYU consistently had answers for defensive coordinator Chris Ash. The Irish made adjustments after halftime, mixing coverages to disrupt Bachmeier and slow the Cougars down. That approach needs to continue.

“It's a chess match,” Freeman said. “We're in man, they were calling man beaters, and we're in zone, they had answers. In the second half, I thought we did a much better job of being one step ahead.

“They were looking for a man-beater and we're playing zone, we stop them. They're looking for zone because we just played zone last series, we're in man. And so it was a chess match, but we really got to be better in that 3-6. 1-2, those are hard situations to stop, but 3-6, we got to get off the field.” 

Notre Dame also lost some of its defensive aggressiveness in Provo.

The Fighting Irish spent much of the night reacting to BYU rather than dictating the terms of the game, a departure from the aggressive approach that had defined the defense through the first six games of the season.

Freeman said opponents have recognized Notre Dame's dynamic pass rush and responded by keeping more players in protection. The Irish didn’t have answers at BYU, but will need to have them over the final month of the season. 

“Teams are starting to use more chippers with their tight end,” Freeman explained. “Six men in protection, they'll chip with the tight end, keep your back in protection. If they're protecting with six, what's our answer? Do we want to bring six or do we want to bring seven? Or do we have an answer that's better for some of the chippers and protection that they use? We went with our sub package early in the game and they checked speed option and it kind of kept us out of it.” 

That presents a challenge for Ash and the defensive staff. Notre Dame needs to find ways to pressure the quarterback without leaving itself vulnerable to offenses that recognize its personnel and adjust accordingly.

During the bye-week evaluation, Freeman challenged his defensive staff to find answers against the run when the Irish are in their sub packages. If opponents can run the ball out of those situations, they can dictate which personnel Notre Dame keeps on the field on third down.

“We got to say even if we get to our sub package, we got to make sure we're sound versus run checks,” said Freeman. It can't just be feast or famine, right? Versus if it's a pass, it's great. If it's a run, we're screwed. We can't have that mentality.

“I think that's kind of what you saw more than anything. The BYU game, the lack of pressure was getting the ball out fast, using six guys in protection and really doing a good job of trying to prohibit us from getting that third-down package on the field.” 

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